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Norwalk and St. John Bosco football agree to two-year home series to start in 2014

Norwalk beat Mayfair football 41-36 at Excelsior High School in Norwalk, CA on Friday, November 8, 2013. Norwalk captures the Suburban League title with a 10-0 record. Norwalk’s Rashaad Penny is brought onto the field where Mayfair players congratulate him.(Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze)

The lone area teams that played for CIF title this past football season in St. John Bosco and Norwalk have agreed to a home and home series for 2014 and 2015, per a tweet by the school’s athletic department.

“I think it’s a great message for (Norwalk head coach Jesse Ceniceros) to send to his kids to schedule a game against an opponent like us,” said Bosco head coach Jason Negro, whose turned the Braves into a national power in just three seasons.

“They are the best,” said Ceniceros. “And if you want to be great you have to play the best.”

Per Negro, Bosco jumped at the opportunity after Norwalk first to reached out about the possible scheduling. Norwalk will host the first game in 2014 on Sept. 5 at Excelsior High and Bosco will host next year. Negro added that he believes that the Sept. 5 game will be the first time the schools have ever faced off in their history.

Both schools are coming off their best seasons in history, as Bosco went 16-0 en route a league, CIF, SoCal and State championship. The Braves also laid claim to a mythical national title. Norwalk came one win short of cementing its best season in history, going 11-1, its lone blemish being a 41-38 double overtime loss in the CIF-SS Southeast Division title game to La Serna.

St. John Bosco coach Jason Negro hugs quarterback Josh Rosen after beating De La Salle in the CIF State Football Bowl Championships Saturday, December 21, 2013, at the Stub Hub Center in Carson, CA. Bosco won 20-14.Photo by Steve McCrank/DailyBreeze

The two programs could not be any different. Bosco is a private school that plays in a 5,500 seat stadium with full light system while Norwalk, who takes pride in their gritty mentality, has to rent a light to practice in the evenings and plays their home games at another high school. The Braves also deploy a high-octane spread offense behind rising senior and No. 1 ranked QB Josh Rosen while Norwalk uses a double-wing offense and pounds opponents on the ground.

“It’s two schools with very different styles and philosophies,” said Negro. ” We look forward to the challenge of that double-wing.”

Bosco does lose a lot from a season ago, including blue-chippers such as Damien Mama and Jaleel Wadood, but return Rosen and running back Sean McGrew. Norwalk loses its most important piece in Rashaad Penny, who rushed for more than 2500 yards and 41 rushing touchdowns. He is headed to San Diego State.